NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to create a fund aimed at boosting the international competitiveness of the nation's universities.

The money will be for nurturing young researchers and improving facilities.

The Japanese government plans to offer subsidies to universities and research institutes that allow their equipment to be used for PCR tests.

The education and science ministry says that as of early August, 71 university hospitals and 27 universities and research institutes across the country had equipment that would allow up to 4,400 PCR tests to be conducted per day.